1917 Lincoln Cent, Wheat (1909-1958)
Doubled Die Obverse, FS-101
Key Features
The 1917 doubled die obverse is one of the earliest and most significant doubled die varieties in the Lincoln cent series, predating the far more famous 1955 doubled die by nearly four decades. Doubling is readily visible in the date and in LIBERTY, a product of a misaligned second hubbing during die preparation at the Philadelphia Mint. It is considerably scarcer than many later 20th-century doubled dies and is much sought after by variety specialists building a complete doubled-die set across the series. Because early Lincoln cents saw heavy circulation, well-struck, clearly doubled examples in problem-free condition are hard to find, and certification by a major grading service is recommended to confirm genuine hub doubling rather than ordinary strike or mechanical doubling, which is common on worn early cents and carries no premium. If you believe you have found one of these coins, contact Frostbyte Coins at frostbytecoins@gmail.com or through our YouTube channel @FrostbyteCoins â
Intriguing History
As the United States entered World War I in 1917, a Philadelphia working die for the Lincoln cent picked up a visible doubled impression on the date and lettering during production, creating one of the earliest well-documented doubled-die varieties in the wheat cent series.